So then, why the
lingering stigma attached to self-publishing? Unfortunately because 'indie
authors' are automatically lumped into the same category as 'vanity authors',
even though self-publishing and vanity publishing are as distinct
from one another as traditional publishing and self-publishing. While indie
filmmakers and garage bands are lauded for their grit and tenacity in producing
self-funded movies and music, the stigma of self-funded publishing continues to
be a millstone around many an indie author's neck.

But it's high time for the
stigmatisation and marginalisation to end. Just like 21-year-old Australian-born
model Stefania Ferrario (below) - currently the face of Dita Von Teese's
lingerie label - is campaigning for the fashion industry to #droptheplus size label for curvier models, so
too, is a new wave of indie authors arguing for equal respect and recognition
alongside their mainstream counterparts. Books and their authors, just like
models, should come in all shapes and sizes - some catering to the highly
commercialised mass market, others to smaller, or more discerning niche
markets. Neither should be perceived as superior or inferior to the other, but
rather variations on the same core product. A model is a model is a model,
whether 'straight-size' or 'plus-size'. A book is a book is a book, whether a
paperback, hardcover, or ebook. And an author is an author is an author,
whether traditionally published or self-published.

That said, any
self-respecting indie author who expects to be taken seriously needs to make
sure that everything about their book is on a par quality-wise with the
books produced by traditional publishers. From the editing and proofreading, to
the interior layout and cover design, it is inexcusable to cut any corners. Not
only do you risk undermining your brand and weakening your value as an author
in the eyes of your readers, but also in the eyes of your fellow authors, and traditional publishers, all of which simply perpetuates the stigma of an
inferior product.

So then, how do
local indie authors go about producing high quality, commercially viable books
that can sit comfortably alongside their traditionally published
counterparts, on both virtual and real-life bookshelves? By outsourcing
the professional services of credible industry players, like Staging Post
and MyeBook, both based in Johannesburg. Tapping into the
ever-increasing demand for cutting edge self-publishing services - in
paperback, hardcover, or ebook format - these guys offer a one-stop-shop for
indie authors who are serious about the quality of the work they put out for
public consumption and scrutiny. Individual services can be cherry-picked
by the author according to their needs and budget, to best prepare, polish,
publish, and promote their books - in national bricks-and-mortar bookstores, as
well as across the plethora of international online stores.

March 2015 has been a boon
to the local independent publishing industry, with not one, but two
major events taking place over consecutive weekends. Last Saturday I attended
South Africa's first Indie Book Fair at the Sunnyside Park
Hotel in Parktown, organised by Porcupine Press and their brand new indie
imprint, African Narratives, primarily to listen to Sarah Taylor deliver her
keynote speech on Broadening Horizons: The expanding opportunities and
freedom of self-publishing. (Taylor is the marketing manager of
UK-based Matador, the self-publishing imprint of Troubador Publishing
Ltd, and editor of The Self Publishing Magazine.) And this coming Saturday
I will be attending the first South African Indie Revolution book festival at
Modjadji House in Floracliffe. Exciting times!

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Jozibelle was born in March 2011, a few months after my son Goran Blake entered the world. In May 2016 I birthed my second child, 'Umbilicus: An autobiographical novel', which you can read more about on my author website, www.paulagruben.com. In May 2017 I decided to unpublish about 95% of the posts on Jozibelle because most of the content contained dead links & outdated info. These days I prefer to keep a simpler photo journal over on Instagram, so feel free to follow me there. You'll find links to all my social media pages in the drop-down menu here, as well as a library of links to things that are of interest & importance to me. Thanks for visiting!